Mahatma Gandhi

1869 – 1948

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who led the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule through a sustained strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience. From the 1930 Salt March to the Quit India movement of 1942, his tactics of mass passive resistance reshaped global politics and inspired civil rights movements led by figures including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. He was assassinated in January 1948, less than six months after Indian independence, by a Hindu nationalist who opposed his calls for religious tolerance.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM